January transfer window round-up (2/1 – 6/1)

7 January 2016

mkdons.com

mkdons.com reviews the latest January transfer window deals in the Sky Bet Championship.

Charlton Athletic kicked things off by signing Middlesbrough defender Rhys Williams on an initial 28-day loan last Saturday. The versatile centre-back moves to the Valley having made 139 appearances for the Boro, although his last two seasons have been hampered by injury.

The Addicks followed that signing up on Monday by making two more additions. First, they signed defender Roger Johnson on an 18-month contract following his departure from Indian side Pune City. They then announced the capture of recent Dons loanee Diego Poyet, who joins after being recalled to West Ham United from his spell at stadiummk.

Another club who made a move on the first day of the transfer window were Ipswich Town, who signed Barnsley’s Paul Digby on loan until the end of the season. England Under-20 international Digby has played in midfield for the majority of his young career but has been signed as a defender by Tractor Boys boss Mick McCarthy.

On Tuesday, Blackburn Rovers signed Norwich City winger Elliot Bennett for an undisclosed fee, reuniting him with Paul Lambert, his former manager at Carrow Road. Bennett, who spent time on loan at Bristol City earlier this season, has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal.

Preston North End were also busy on Tuesday, re-signing winger Callum Robinson on loan from Aston Villa and renewing the temporary deal of Middlesbrough wide-man Adam Reach. Robinson scored seven goals during two spells at Deepdale last season while Reach has netted twice in 17 appearances this term.

The Lilywhites also secured the emergency loan signing of goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, who featured in their promotion-winning campaign of 2014/15. He returns to Deepdale after Jordan Pickford was recalled from his season-long loan deal by Sunderland.

Arguably the biggest moves in first few days of the window both came at the iPro Stadium where Derby County signed both Guinea international Abdoul Camara and Reading striker Nick Blackman.

Camara, 25, joins from French Ligue 1 side Angers and can play on the wing or up-front, while forward Blackman moves from the Royals having netted 13 times this campaign. Both deals were for an undisclosed fee.

On Wednesday, the Rams also allowed forward Simon Dawkins to re-join American Major League Soccer club San Jose for an undisclosed fee.

Dawkins is one of five players who have left the Sky Bet Championship on a permanent basis since last Saturday.

Murray Wallace moved to Scunthorpe United from Huddersfield Town for an undisclosed fee and he is joined there by fellow defender Conor Townsend, who has signed on a free transfer from Hull City, who have also sent winger Calaum Jahraldo-Martin on loan to Leyton Orient.

Queens Park Rangers parted-ways with versatile midfielder Michael Harriman, who has joined League 2 side Wycombe Wanderers for an undisclosed fee after scoring six goals in 25 games while on loan at Adams Park.

The R’s have also loaned young full-back Darnell Furlong to Cambridge United for a month.

While most of the permanent outgoings have seen players leave to lower-division clubs, one has made the step-up to the Premier League. On Monday, Leicester City signed Birmingham City winger Demarai Gray after meeting the release clause in his contract.

The exciting youngster has signed a four-and-a-half year deal at the King Power Stadium after making close to 80 senior appearances despite being only 19 years old.

One player who has left the division to move abroad is Cardiff City striker Kenwyne Jones. The 31-year-old has signed for United Arab Emirates-based Al Jazira until the end of the season.

Other deals have seen Bolton Wanderers allow full-back Lawrie Wilson to join Peterborough United on a 28-day loan and Jack Grimmer join Shrewsbury Town from Fulham for the remainder of 2015/16. The Cottagers have also agreed for Larnell Cole’s loan to be extended at Greenhous Meadow until the end of the season.